What to know

• Driven by its belief in the power of sport to move the world forward, Nike is collaborating with the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) to help support displaced athletes.
• Nike and the ORF share the vision that sport can help displaced people find community and a sense of belonging. Together they will provide access to more inclusive play and sport environments that support greater confidence and overall mental health, particularly for women and girls, through the ORF’s Terrains d’Avenir program in Paris.
• Through this collaboration, Nike will also provide uniform support for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and the Refugee Athlete Scholarship Program, managed by the ORF.

Nike believes that the power of sport can move the world forward. That taking action to create a better world — one that is more active, inclusive and equitable for everyone — means prioritizing those who face the greatest barriers, including displaced community members.

That’s why Nike is collaborating with the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) to help displaced people find community and a sense of belonging through sport.

The collaboration will provide access to more inclusive play and sport environments that create greater confidence and improve overall mental health. This includes supporting the ORF’s Paris-based program, Terrains d’Avenir, that focuses on giving women and girls greater access to sport; providing trauma-informed coaching resources to help coaches deliver sport to displaced community members; and employing a person(s) with lived experience of displacement to support the collaboration.

Related Article: Nike’s New Global Football Program Helps Drive Gender Equity in Sport

“Nike is focused on expanding play and sport for girls,”

says Vanessa Garcia-Brito, Nike Chief Social & Community Impact Officer.

“Globally, girls face complex cultural and social barriers and, as a result, are moving the least. Girls enter sport later and drop out earlier — at twice the rate of boys. Our support of the Olympic Refuge Foundation aims to change that for displaced girls. With a shared belief that all kids should have access to play, we’re committed to removing barriers by providing displaced girls in Paris with strong, caring mentors and coaches who can empower them with a lifetime of confidence.”

Through this collaboration, Nike will also provide uniform support for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team and the Refugee Athlete Scholarship Program, managed by the ORF, which helps support 63 refugee athletes from around the world, representing 13 sports.

Together, Nike and the ORF are collaborating to level the playing field for displaced athletes to create a better future for everyone.